Manitoba Premier Promises to Increase Parental Rights, Inform Parents About Gender Dysphoria

Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson speaks at the convention centre in Winnipeg on April 15, 2023. John Woods/The Canadian Press

With just under two months before the next provincial election in Manitoba, Progressive Conservative Premier Heather Stefanson has announced an updated parental rights policy, which will include a policy mandating that schools inform parents if their children want to switch genders.

Ms. Stefanson said at a news conference on Aug. 17 at St. Vital Park that parents know what is in their children’s best interests.

“You raised them and nurtured them. So who better than you—as parents—to know what’s best for your child as you send them off to school?” said Ms. Stefanson. She said her party would be “fighting for enhanced parental rights” in Manitoba.

“We have heard loud and clear from parents, that they worry about losing touch with what matters most for their children, what they’re learning, how they’re feeling, and if they’re struggling. These are the things that parents need to know in order to make the best decisions for their children,” said the premier.

“The teachers and school staff do incredible work educating our kids, but parents want to know what’s going on in the day-to-day lives of their children.”

She indicated that a reelected PC government would “formalize and enhance rights for parents and guardians in the Public Schools Act.” The premier said that would include the right for parents to be involved in cases of alleged bullying, children’s behavioural changes, and if a child discloses a desire to be recognized by a different gender at school.

Ms. Stefanson said her party would consult with parents on the proposed new rights and “parents will decide,” because “a lot has changed in 30 years.”

The party has pledged to improve the Public Schools Act to also allow parents the right to be informed about curriculum, the right to be notified in advance about presentations made to children by organizations outside the school system, and the right to consent to images of their children being used or shared.

The act already lists seven basic rights of parents, but Ms. Stefanson said the list has not been revised since 1996—before there was texting and cyberbullying.

New Brunswick

Ms. Stefanson’s stance on parents needing to be informed about their children’s statements on gender follows a similar policy implemented by New Brunswick Progressive Conservative Premier Blaine Higgs.

On June 8, Bill Hogan, New Brunswick’s education minister, announced that as of July 1, students under the age of 16 cannot change their names or pronouns in school without parental consent. The new policy requires the school to talk to students about contacting their parents on the issue, or directing the student to a mental health professional to “work with them in the development of a plan to speak with their parents if and when they are ready to do so.”

“We believe that it’s fundamentally wrong to not share this information with the parents if we are using [a student’s preferred name] on a daily basis,” Mr. Hogan said. “If we are using it on a daily basis, it puts teachers in a really challenging position.”

Mr. Higgs said the province had to find a solution “where we do not exclude parents in their child’s life.” He said the policy is “taking a strong position for families” and standing up for parents.

The New Brunswick premier came under fire for the policy and ultimately demoted some cabinet ministers who publicly failed to vote with the party. Meanwhile in Manitoba, opposition parties were also critical of Ms. Stefanson’s announcement.

NDP Leader Wab Kinew said at a campaign announcement that the PC party was “trying to divide Manitobans.”

“In this case, they’re very clearly blowing a dog whistle about LGBTQ folks,” said Mr. Kinew.

Dougald Lamont, leader of the provincial Liberal Party, meanwhile, suggested the focus should be on improving education outcomes for children. “The reality is that there are too many kids in Manitoba [who] can’t read, write or do math, plenty of them are hungry, and there is no air conditioning in many schools across the province,” Mr. Lamont said in a statement to the CBC.

He said that Ms. Stefanson’s party was “trying to pretend they’re solving a problem that doesn’t exist” and attempting to appeal to “moral panic.”

“Some of it is, frankly, they’re whipping up the moral panic and validating some really appalling things—the false accusations that have been made towards teachers and librarians,” Mr. Lamont said. “That is the real concern.”

Ms. Stefanson said her party is listening to parents. “We’re hearing from parents right across the province who want to ensure that they’re better informed to make decisions on behalf of their children,” she said.